ESTWING Gad Pry Bar - 18" Forged Geologist Tool with Pointed Tip & Chisel End - GP-18

Solid, works as described.

I used the Estwing Gad for the first time last summer while mining for fire opal in Southern Oregon. I was the only person at the site (out of many) that had a Gad while everyone else was using standard chisels to go through the hard host rock and get to the opal seams. Let me tell you, this thing went through that hard rock a lot easier and faster than any other chisel I saw used. I almost felt guilty about how much easier it was for me to get to the opal and I probably got at least 4 times the amount of the next highest producer. It's also really easy to be accurate and careful using this compared to other chisels. I was easily able to go from removing large amounts of material to slowing down and slowly chipping away without damaging the opal I was chasing. I will never go hard rock mining without a Gad again!

I found one of these in a creek decades ago. And yes I now a have a couple of them for me and my partners. This is the best tool for crack mining I could ever imagine for gold prospecting, crystal mining and mineral recovery. The one that I've found was painted orange so the new one got some white and orange stripes. I have a lot of Estwing tools and swear by them. Get out there and have fun!

Used for prying an old fence apart, and occasionally prying rocks out of the ground. Worked well and is holding up well, zero complaints.

I found a use for this handy little tool other than what it was designed to do and that is to remove the redwood from between cement slabs. I had to grind off a few millimeters for it to fit in the 3/4" groove.With the sledge shown it cut right through the wood and of course the lever is already built in. Knots in the wood were a bit more difficult but I used the pointed end on them and they just split up. I tried a lot of other methods but this one beat them all hands down.

I have only used this a few times now when out rock hounding with my family and it's been great to have along. Seems to be quite sturdy and it is great to have that extra leverage for larger material.The only down side to me is carrying it along. It doesn't fit in a normal backpack well without sticking out or someone just has to carry it in hand. And although the kids like rock hounding they never like carrying the tools.

It's a gad... and it's terrific !!! Weight saving when out on the hunt. Probably the most useful tool you could have besides a rock hammer. This is my third one... one lost in the dirt, one lost to my son, this one is a replacement. You really can't ask for more. AND for those complaining of rust... hummm, it's steel and yes it can rust up a bit... go figure, steel rusts. That's like complaining about ducks quacking. If you're concerned about a little rust, paint peeling or your gear taking a bit of a beating while using it I'm certain you're not going to survive rockhounding. A tip for this gad... make yourself a PVC sleeve with a cap at one end, this thing is very sharp. You'll be able to store it in a bag without poking a hole through it or possibly yourself if you take a spill.

It's a sturdy, well built, giant spike with a pry end, not much else to say. Best used with a large sledgehammer when breaking apart rocks. Another great Estwing tool added to the collection